Nut splitting tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for splitting a nut frozen to a threaded shaft located in an area of limited access includes a generally narrow tubular body, a rotation member extending above the body, a slide member carried on the end of the rotation member and movable lengthwise in the interior of the body, and a leverage arm which pivots on the side of the body and extends into sliding engagement with the slide member. A blade preferably carried on the bottom of the leverage arm is movable transversely into an opening at the bottom of the body. In use, the open bottom of the body is placed over the nut, and the rotation member is tightened by a wrench to move the slide member into continuous sliding contact with the leverage arm to pivot the leverage arm and force the blade member on the arm against the side of the nut. Continued tightening of the rotation member applies leverage to the arm, through the slide member, to progressively force the blade against the nut, eventually splitting the nut so it can be removed from the threaded shaft.

United States Patent [191 Castoe [76] Inventor:

[ NUT SPLI'ITING TOOL John H. Castoe, 10234 McVine, Sunland, Calif. 91040 22 Filed: Oct.25, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 517,815

[52] US. Cl. 30/189 [51] Int. Cl. B26B 17/02 [58] Field of Search 30/189, 188, 187, 186, 30/180 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 806,493 12/1905 Plummer 30/180 1,489,377 4/1924 Wood et a1. 30/187 UX 2,414,149 l/l947 Hall 30/189 2,482,025 9/ 1949 Persson 30/187 X 2,956,340 l0/l960 Levenson 30/187 X 3,177,583 4/1965 Fischer et al. 30/180 3,254,408 6/1966 Hite 30/189 3,372,479 3/1968 Fischer.. 30/180 3,495,330 2/1970 Bruce 30/180 Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith 'Assistant ExaminerJ. T. Zatarga Attorney, Agent, or FirmChristie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT A tool for splitting a nut frozen to a threaded shaft located in an area of limited access includes a generally narrow tubular body, a rotation member extending above the body, a slide member carried on the end of the rotation member and movable lengthwise in the interior of the body, and a leverage arm which pivots on the side of the body and extends into sliding engagement with the slide member. A blade preferably carried on the bottom of the leverage arm is movable transversely ihto an opening at the bottom of the body. In use, the open bottom of the body is placed over the nut, and the rotation member is tightened by a wrench to move the slide member into continuous sliding contact with the leverage arm to pivot the leverage arm and force the blade member on the arm against the side of the nut. Continued tightening of the rotation member applies leverage to the arm, through the slide member, to progressively force the blade against the nut, eventually splitting the nut so it can be removed from the threaded shaft.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.14,1975 Sheet1of2 3,911,576

U.S. Patant 00. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,911,576

NUT SPLI'I'IING TOOL BACKGROUND This invention relates to tools for splitting a nut frozen to a threaded shaft so the nut can be removed from the shaft.

Mechanics often experience the problem of trying to remove a nut which is frozen to the end of a threaded shaft. A common problem is to remove the nut from the threaded shaft which attaches a shock absorber to the frame of an automobile. In many instances, particularly in the colder climates where salt is placed on the roads, or in coastal areas where salt air is present, corrosion from exposure of the nut to the salt freezes the nut to the threaded end of the shaft.

When a mechanic replaces the shock absorbers of an automobile, the greatest amount of his time can be taken up in removing the nut which holds the end of the shock absorber. To facilitate removal of the shock absorber nut, auto manufacturers have put flats or a screw driver slot on the end of the threaded shaft so the shaft can be held stationary with one tool while another tool is used to loosen the nut. However, the use of two such tools to remove the nut is difficult, especially in certain automobile designs having only limited access to the side of the nut. For example, in many automobiles the upper steering control arm surrounds the connection of the shock absorber shaft and nut to the automobile frame, making it difficult, if not impossible, to gain access to the side of the nut.

Other known tools for removing a nut frozen to a threaded shaft also cannot be conveniently used to remove the nut on a shock absorber when there is limited access to the side of the nut. For example, acetylene torches can be used to remove a frozen nut, but service stations are not generally allowed to use such torches because of the fire hazard. Moreover, a variety of nut splitting tools are available. Such tools generally include a ring or C-shaped clamp having a floatingbase on one side and a blade member on the other side. A bolt attached to the base is tightened to squeeze the blade against the side of the nut to split the nut so it can be removed. However, these devices canonly be used where there is generally unlimited access to the side of the nut, and such access is often not available to the nut which holds the end of a shock absorber, as discussed above.

SUMMARY This invention provides a nut splitting tool for removing a nut frozen to a threaded shaft located where there is substantially no access to the side of the nut.

Briefly, the tool includes a generally tubular, elongated body, a movable slide member mounted in the top of of the body, and an elongated leverage arm having one end which engages the movable slide member and an opposite end which is movable into an opening at the bottom of the tubular body.

In use, the bottom opening of the body is placed over a fastener, such as a nut on a threaded shaft located in an area of limited access. The slide member extends above the area of limited access where it can be adjusted by a tool for moving the slide member into sliding contact with the leverage arm. Continued movement of the slide member against the leverage arm progressively moves a blade member at the bottom of the body against the side of the nut to apply sufficient pressure to the nut to split it so it can be removed from a threaded shaft.

In a preferred form of the nut splitting tool, the tubular body is of a generally long and narrow profile so that the open bottom end of the body can be placed over the nut by access gained from above the nut in instances where there is limited access to the side of the nut. A rotation member located in the top of the body is adapted for engagement with a tool such as a wrench. As the rotation member is tightened by the wrench, it forces the slide member into sliding contact with a top edge of the leverage arm. An intermediate portion of the leverage arm is pivotally attached to the lower portion of the tubular body, and continued sliding contact with the slide member pivots the bottom of the leverage arm into the bottom opening of the tubular body. Preferably, the blade member is located on the bottom end of the leverage arm so that continued movement of the leverage arm into the opening, under pressure from the slide member, forces the blade member against the side of the nut until the pressure applied to the nut eventually splits the nut.

Thus, the nut which holds a shock absorber to the frame of an automobile can be removed by the nut splitting tool, even when there is no access to the side of the nut, simply by placing the tool over the nut and tightening the rotation member in the top of the tool which can be reached from above the area of limited access.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood by referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a nut splitting tool according to this invention in position for being placed over a nut which holds the end of a shock absorber to the frame of an automobile;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation view, partly broken away, showing the nut splitting tool engaged with the nut prior to using the tool for splitting the nut;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation view, partly broken away, showing the position of the nut splitting tool after the nut has been split;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken on line 66 of FIG. 4 and showing the nut after it has been split;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the component parts of the nut splitting tool;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the nut after it has been split;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing an alternate embodiment of the nut splitting tool; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation view showing how the nut splitting tool can be used generally in areas where limited access is available from the side of the nut.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a nut splitting tool 10 according to this invention is used to split a nut 12 frozen to the threads 14 on the end of a shaft 16. The drawings show by way of example that the nut 12 can be frozen to the threads 14 at the end of a piston rod which is part of an automobile shock absorber 18. The end of the shock absorber piston rod is attached to the vehicle frame 20 through upper and lower rubber grommets 22, and the nut 12 is tightened against a metal plate 24 above the upper grommet to hold the end of the shock absorber rod to the frame 20. The threaded end 14 of the piston rod commonly has flats 26 normally provided by the auto manufacturer for receiving a tool for holding the threaded end of the rod in a fixed position while a second tool is used to loosen the frozen nut 12 from the end of the shock absorber rod.

The drawings further illustrate a typical problem encountered in removing the frozen nut 12 from the shock absorber where limited access is available to the side of the nut due to the presence of a surrounding upper steering control arm 28 of the automobile. In this instance, the upper steering control arm 28 includes ends 30 in the form of a yoke which surround most of the nut 12 and thereby limit access to the side of nut 12 and the threaded portion 14 of the shock absorber piston rod. Because of this limited access, it is difficult, if not impossible, for a mechanic to apply one wrench to the flats 26 of the shock absorber rod and also apply another wrench to the frozen nut when loosening the nut.

The nut splitting tool of this invention overcomes this problem because the tool can be placed down over the top of the frozen nut 12, as shown in FIG. 1. After the tool is in place, a single wrench 31, which is operative above and outside the area of limited access, can be applied to the end of the tool to tighten the tool and apply enough force to split the nut. Then the nut can be removed from the threads 14 of the shock absorber rod.

The detailed construction of the nut splitting tool 10 will be understood best by referring to FIGS. 2 through 7. The nut splitting tool 10 includes an elongated generally tubular-shaped body or sleeve 32 having open top and bottom ends. A long, narrow slotted opening 34 is formed in one side of the sleeve and extends from the bottom of the sleeve lengthwise about two-thirds the length of the sleeve. The interior of the sleeve includes a smooth bore 36 at the bottom of the sleeve extending for about one-third the length of the sleeve. The bore 36 is stepped down to form a second smooth bore 38 extending for about the middle one-third of the length of the sleeve. Bores 36 and 38 are generally square shaped in cross-section. The top portion of the bore 38 meets an internally threaded bore 40 which extends for about the top one-third of the length of the sleeve.

A generally cylindrical, elongated rotation member 42 is rotatably mounted in the threaded bore 40 of the sleeve 32. The top of the rotation member includes flats 44 for receiving a tool, such as a wrench 31 shown in FIG. 1, for use in rotating the rotation member relative to the sleeve. The rotation member 42 also includes an externally threaded bottom section 46 engaged with the threaded bore 40 of the sleeve.

As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rotation member 42 is attached to a slide member 48 which makes a sliding fit in the bore of the sleeve 32. The slide member 48 is a solid piece having a cylindrical exterior surface shaped to conform to the inner diameter of the bores 38 and 40. The slide member 48 also includes an angled slide surface 50 which is generally linear and faces downwardly and outwardly toward the slotted opening 34 in the sleeve 32. As shown best in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7, the generally cylindrical outer surface of the slide member is stepped down to form a generally cylindrical-shaped attachment member 52 at the top of the slide member. The attachment member 52 fits into a correspondingly shaped bore 54 formed in the bottom of the rotation member 42. A pin 55 extending laterally through the side wall of the rotation member 42 fits into a narrow circular recess 56 formed in the outer surface of the connecting member 52. In use, the rotation member 42 is rotated about its axis to translate the slide member 48 in the bore of the sleeve 32 via the attachment provided by pin 55 which rotates about the connecting member 52 in the recess 56.

An elongated leverage arm 58 is pivotally mounted in the slotted opening 34 of the sleeve 32. The leverage arm 58 is a rigid, generally narrow, elongated piece which extends upwardly through the slotted opening 34 and into the bore through the sleeve 32. The top end of the leverage arm extends into the generally U- shaped tapered slot formed by the slide surface 50 in the bottom of the slide member 48. A generally arcuate shaped slide surface 60 at the top of the leverage arm engages the slide surface 50 of the slide member 48, with the outer edges of the leverage arm 58 being confined between the opposite edges of the U-shaped slot in the bottom of the slide member, as shown best in FIG. 5. A roll pin 62 extends through the opposite sides of the sleeve 32 and also through the leverage arm 58 to pivotally attach the lower portion of the leverage arm 58 in the slotted opening 34 of the sleeve 32. Flats 64 on the bottom portion of the leverage arm form an elongated blade edge 66 which extends in a generally upright position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leverage arm. As the leverage arm pivots about the roll pin 62, the blade edge 66 moves into the bottom opening of the sleeve 32.

During use of the nut splitting tool 10, the bottom portion of the sleeve 32 is placed over the top of the frozen nut 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The sleeve is placed so that a flat rear wall section of the bore 36 rests against one of the flats of the frozen nut 12 (as illustrated in FIG. 3), with the blade edge 66 of the leverage am being positioned so it will engage the mid-point of one of the flat of the nut. FIG. 2 illustrates the position of the nut splitting tool after it is inserted over the frozen nut and before leverage is applied to split the nut. It will be noted that in this position the leverage am 58 is in an angular orientation with the top of its slide surface 60 engaging the bottom of the slide surface 50 of the slide member 48. In this position, the major portion of the threaded section 46 of the rotation member 42 extends above the top edge of the sleeve 32.

Once the nut splitting tool is in place over the nut 12, the wrench 31 is applied to the flats 44 of the rotation member 42, and the wrench is turned to tighten the rotation member 42 so it will move downwardly into the bore of the sleeve 32. Downward movement of the rotation member causes the slide member 48 to translate downwardly through the bore in the sleeve, which causes the sliding surface 60 of the leverage arm to move generally upwardly along the inclined surface 50. This applies a substantial amount of leverage to the leverage arm 58, forcing it to progressively move into an upright position shown in FIG. 4. As the leverage arm moves to its upright position, the blade edge 66 is continuously being forced into contact with the side of the nut 12, and as leverage continues to be applied, the blade member applies an increasing amount of pressure until the force of the blade splits the nut, as shown in FIG. 8. Once the nut has been split, it can then simply be removed from the threaded portion 14 of the shaft 16.

Thus, the nut splitting tool can be slipped over a frozen nut located in an area of surrounding interference. For example, FIG. 10 shows how the tool can be used in splitting a nut 68 located in an area where a surrounding object 70 prevents access to the side of the nut so that conventional nut splitting tools which extend laterally from the tool for engagement with a wrench cannot be used. Similarly, FIG. 10 illustrates by way of example how the surrounding interference of the object 70 prevents the use of two nut-removing tools, one to hold the bolt 72 stationary while another tool is applied to the nut 68 to turn the nut and remove it from the bolt 72.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative form of the invention in which a second blade member 74 is affixed to the inner wall of the bore 36 immediately opposite the blade edge 66 of leverage arm 58. In this embodiment, leverage applied by arm 58 squeezes the blade 66 and blade member 74 against opposite sides of the nut to split the nut in two. A further alternative modification of the tool (not shown) could include a blade member, such as blade member 74, rigidly attached to the bottom interior of the sleeve 32, and a lower portion of the leverage arm shaped not as the blade edge 66, but shaped to conform to the opposite side of a nut so that leverage applied to the member 58 forces only the blade member 74 into contact with the nut.

I claim:

1. A nut splitting tool comprising:

a generally narrow, elongated tubular body having a bore extending through it between a first opening at one end and a second opening at the other end thereof;

a leverage adjusting member rotatably mounted in the first opening of the tubular body and having a portion thereof extending into the bore of the tubular body and having an exterior portion extending therefrom for engagement with a tool for rotating the adjustment member relative to the tubular body;

a slide member disposed in the bore of the tubular body and attached to the portion of the leverage adjusting member disposed therein, the slide member having a rearwardly inclining wedge-like slide surface movable lengthwise in the bore toward the second opening in the tubular body; and

an elongated leverage arm carried on the tubular body and mounted to pivot in the bore of the body, the leverage arm having a first end portion forwardly inclining and slidably engaged with the wedge-like slide surface of the slide member, and a second end formed as a blade member and movable in the second opening in the tubular body;

the slide member being attached to the leverage adjusting member and engaged with the leverage arm so that rotation of the adjusting member translates the slide member lengthwide in the bore, while preventing rotation of the slide member relative to the bore, to progressively force the slide surface of the slide member toward the second opening and thereby into a wedging, non-rotating engagement with the first end portion of the leverage arm to pivot the leverage arm and force the blade member thereof into contact with a nut disposed in the second opening of the tubular body.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the wedge-like slide surface comprises an elongated notched section formed in the slide member and having spaced apart edges for confining the first end portion of the leverage arm.

3. Appparatus according to claim 2 including means for rotatably attaching the leverage adjusting member to the slide member so the leverage adjusting member rotates relative to the non-rotating slide member, the rotatable attachment providing means for applying a longitudinal force to the slide member, in response to rotation of the adjustment member, to move the slide member lengthwise in the bore of the tubular member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the first end of the tubular body includes a threaded portion engageable with a threaded portion of the leverage adjusting member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first end portion of the leverage arm comprises a generally arcuate slide surface which is movable along the wedge-like slide surface of the slide member when the slide member moves lengthwise in the bore of the tubular body toward the second opening therein.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the second opening of the tubular body includes a generally flat base engageable with the nut to be split, and the blade member of the leverage arm is movable toward the base in response to lengthwise movement of the slide member in the bore of the tubular body.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a narrow, elongated slotted opening extending lengthwise in the side of the tubular body, and in which the leverage arm is pivotally mounted in the slotted opening.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the wedge-like slide surface comprises an elongated notched section formed in the slide member and having spaced apart edges on opposite sides of the notched portion for confining the first end portion of the leverage arm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including means for rotatably attaching the leverage adjusting member to the slide member so the leverage adjusting member rotates relative to the slide member, the rotatable attachment providing means for applying a longitudinal force to the slide member, in response to rotation of the adjustment member, to move the slide member lengthwise in the bore of the tubular member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a second blade member affixed to the tubular body adjacent the second opening therein, and being diametrically opposed to the blade member of the leverage arm. 

1. A nut splitting tool comprising: a generally narrow, elongated tubular body having a bore extending through it between a first opening at one end and a second opening at the other end thereof; a leverage adjusting member rotatably mounted in the first opening of the tubular body and having a portion thereof extending into the bore of the tubular body and having an exterior portion extending therefrom for engagement with a tool for rotating the adjustment member relative to the tubular body; a slide member disposed in the bore of the tubular body and attached to the portion of the leverage adjusting member disposed therein, the slide member having a rearwardly inclining wedge-like slide surface movable lengthwise in the bore toward the second opening in the tubular body; and an elongated leverage arm carried on the tubular body and mounted to pivot in the bore of the body, the leverage arm having a first end portion forwardly inclining and slidably engaged with the wedge-like slide surface of the slide member, and a second end formed as a blade member and movable in the second opening in the tubular body; the slide member being attached to the leverage adjusting member and engaged with the leverage arm so that rotation of the adjusting member translates the slide member lengthwide in the bore, while preventing rotation of the slide member relative to the bore, to progressively force the slide surface of the slide member toward the second opening and thereby into a wedging, non-rotating engagement with the first end portion of the leverage arm to pivot the leverage arm and force the blade member thereof into contact with a nut disposed in the second opening of the tubular body.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the wedge-like slide surface comprises an elongated notched section formed in the slide member and having spaced apart edges for confining the first end portion of the leverage arm.
 3. Appparatus according to claim 2 including means for rotatably attaching the leverage adjusting member to the slide member so the leverage adjusting member rotates relative to the non-rotating slide member, the rotatable attachment providing means for applying a longitudinal force to the slide member, in response to rotation of the adjustment member, to move the slide member lengthwise in the bore of the tubular member.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the first end of the tubular body includes a threaded portion engageable with a threaded portion of the leverage adjusting member.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the first end portion of the leverage arm comprises a generally arcuate slide surface which is movable along the wedge-like slide surface of the slide member when the slide member moves lengthwise in the bore of the tubular body toward the second opening therein.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the second opening of the tubular body includes a generally flat base engageable with the nut to be split, and the blade member of the leverage arm is movable towarD the base in response to lengthwise movement of the slide member in the bore of the tubular body.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a narrow, elongated slotted opening extending lengthwise in the side of the tubular body, and in which the leverage arm is pivotally mounted in the slotted opening.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the wedge-like slide surface comprises an elongated notched section formed in the slide member and having spaced apart edges on opposite sides of the notched portion for confining the first end portion of the leverage arm.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 including means for rotatably attaching the leverage adjusting member to the slide member so the leverage adjusting member rotates relative to the slide member, the rotatable attachment providing means for applying a longitudinal force to the slide member, in response to rotation of the adjustment member, to move the slide member lengthwise in the bore of the tubular member.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a second blade member affixed to the tubular body adjacent the second opening therein, and being diametrically opposed to the blade member of the leverage arm. 